A system and method for securing a moveable scanner device within a scanning system comprises a housing having a transparent platen provided thereon. The scanner device is operatively associated with the housing and is moveable along a displacement path. A drive system comprising a drive belt connected to the scanner device and a tensioning system operatively associated with the drive belt moves the scanner device along the displacement path. A control system operatively associated with the drive system actuates the drive system to move the scanner device to a stowed position along the displacement path, the location of the stowed position being such that a force exerted on the scanner device and directed along the displacement path is not transmitted to the drive belt tensioning system.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method, comprising: providing a scanning system having a carriage assembly therein that is operatively associated with a drive system so that the carriage assembly is moveable along a displacement path, the drive system including a drive belt, the carriage being mounted to the drive belt, and a drive belt tensioning system operatively associated with the drive belt; and moving the carriage to a stowed position along the displacement path, the location of the stowed position being such that a force exerted on the carriage and directed along the displacement path is not transmitted to the drive belt tensioning system.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transporting the scanning system to another location.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising moving the carriage to a home position along the displacement path after completing the step of transporting the scanning system to another location.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising operating the scanning system to scan an object after completing the step of moving the carriage to the home position.
5. Scanner apparatus, comprising: a scanner device operatively associated with a housing so that said scanner device is moveable along a displacement path; a drive system operatively associated with said scanner device, said drive system moving said scanner device along the displacement path, said drive system comprising a drive belt, said scanner device being mounted to said drive belt; and a drive belt tensioning system operatively associated with said drive belt; and a control system operatively associated with said drive system, said control system actuating said drive system to move said scanner device to a stowed position along the displacement path, the location of the stowed position being such that a force exerted on said scanner device and directed along the displacement path is not transmitted to said drive belt tensioning system.
6. The scanner apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a travel stop mounted to said housing, said scanner device engaging said travel stop when said scanner device is located at the stowed position.
7. The scanner apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said scanner device further comprises a carriage for holding said scanner device, said carriage being operatively associated with said drive system so that said drive system moves said carriage along the displacement path.
8. The scanner apparatus of claim 5 , wherein said drive system further comprises an idler sprocket mounted to said housing at about a home position end of said housing and a drive sprocket mounted to said housing at about an away position end of said housing, said drive belt engaging said idler sprocket and said drive sprocket and extending therebetween so that said drive belt defines an upper section and a lower section, said drive belt moving said scanner device between a home position located at about the home position end of said housing and an away position located at about the away position end of said housing.
9. The scanner apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said scanner device is operatively associated with the upper section of said drive belt and wherein said drive belt tensioning system is operatively associated with the lower section of said drive belt.
10. The scanner apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said drive belt tensioning system further comprises: a tensioning sprocket moveably mounted to said housing so that said tensioning sprocket is moveable between a maximum take-up position and a minimum take-up position, said tensioning sprocket engaging said drive belt; and a biasing device operatively associated with said tensioning sprocket, said biasing device urging said tensioning sprocket toward the maximum take-up position.
11. The scanner apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said travel stop is mounted to the away position end of said housing and wherein the stowed position is substantially coincident with the away position.
12. The scanner apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising an image processing system operatively associated with said scanner device.
13. The scanner apparatus of claim 12 , wherein said scanner device further comprises: a contact image sensor system; and an illumination system.
14. Scanner apparatus, comprising: a scanner device operatively associated with a housing so that said scanner device is moveable along a displacement path adjacent a platen portion of said housing; a drive system operatively associated with said scanner device, said drive system moving said scanner device along the displacement path, said drive system comprising a drive belt, said scanner device being mounted to said drive belt; and a drive belt tensioning system operatively associated with said drive belt; and a control system operatively associated with said drive system, said control system actuating said drive system to move said scanner device to a stowed position along the displacement path, the location of the stowed position being such that a force exerted on said scanner device and directed along the displacement path is not transmitted to said drive belt tensioning system.
15. The scanner apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a travel stop mounted to said housing and wherein said drive system further comprises an idler sprocket mounted to said housing at about a home position end of said housing and a drive sprocket mounted to said housing at about an away position end of said housing, said drive belt engaging said idler sprocket and said drive sprocket and extending therebetween so that said drive belt defines an upper section and a lower section, said drive belt moving said scanner device between a home position located at about the home position end of said housing and an away position located at about the away position end of said housing.
16. The scanner apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said scanner device is operatively associated with the upper section of said drive belt and wherein said drive belt tensioning system is operatively associated with the lower section of said drive belt.
17. A method, comprising: providing a scanner device having a carriage assembly therein that is operatively associated with a drive system so that the carriage assembly is moveable along a displacement path, the drive system including a drive belt, the carriage being mounted to the drive belt, and a drive belt tensioning system operatively associated with the drive belt; and operating the drive system of the scanner device to move the carriage to a stowed position along the displacement path, the location of the stowed position being such that a force exerted on the carriage and directed along the displacement path is prevented from reaching the drive belt tensioning system.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising moving the scanner device.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising operating the drive system of the scanner device to move the carriage to a home position along the displacement path after completing the step of moving the scanner device.
20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising operating the scanner device to scan an object after completing the step of operating the drive system of the scanner device to move the carriage to the home position.
21. The method of claim 14 , further comprising an image processing system operatively associated with said scanner device.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
April 12, 2001
November 5, 2002
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